As a youngster, I would get home from School, get changed and go out to play with my pals.

Now I'm older, I get home from work, get changed and go out to play with my pals, but now I call it training.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Hi Steve and Emma

Little round up of how things have gone recently....

Brampton to Carlisle race - 58:50. Not a super duper result, but not a terrible one either. THis was 2 minutes (12 seconds per mile) slower than the same race in 2011.

Up until September when this achilles trouble flared up I was hoping and expecting to run nearer to 55 minutes. But considering I ran most of the race on my own this year after failing to get in the right group (the one with Milly in), it was a fair result.

It was something like my 16th consecutive B2C race. I'm hoping to run it for the next 20 to 30 editions too.

Midweek training is low key at the moment. A couple of swift 5 milers (which I am struggling to complete at 6:30 pace but dont wanna turn them into a time trial effort just to get a decent time), and a one hour run with Plucky which is probably also about 6:30-6:40 pace. This last week I also got out in the daytime for a very wet fell run.....

Me and Mark Sparky Ryan headed over to Seathwaite on Tuesday to check out the route for the Wasdale Tri whic Sparks is considering entering. It was a truly awful day though, with heavy rain constantly drowning our morale, and strong gales forecast too. We opted NOT to go up the Scafells but did nevertheless get a decnt run of nearly 4 hours including Styhead Pass (both ways) and most of the corridor route.

I did this exact route two weeks ago in about 3hours 50 mins. Today it took me 3hrs 25 mins, due mainly to not having tried very hard previously, but also due to taking better lines now that I know the ground better. Next week I will again complete the out and back section (Askham to Patterdale).

Hopefully, come 22nd December I will be in a great position turn my recceing homework into a strong performance in the event itself.

I know you (I) cant have everything, but I'm a bit pissed off with having no real speed at present. Yes I know I have won 3 events of 26, 30 and 50 miles this year and I wouldn't trade any of those wins for a 55 minute B2C, but I want to be able to run my 5 mile evening loop inside 31:30 if not sub 31, and the current 32:30 odd is making me feel old and slow. So much so that I have decided to renew my acquaintance with mile reps. I haven't done reps of any type since this injury flared up in September, but I reckon it will survive 4x 1mile efforts at just under 6 pace. So this Thursday will be a big day in terms of finding out exactly where I am in terms of fitness/speed and if the achilles can hold out for some faster work.

Years ago the only plan was to run as fast as possible. Some half decent times were achieved and a few races were won. Then, somewhere in the mid to late noughties I lost my way a little. I now endeavour to recapture the fitness of my past, though I suspect will never have quite the same speed.However, it seems age also brings wisdom and a newfound self belief that anything is possible if you want it badly enough (and also train very hard).

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……..first impressions suggest no more than a mundane training diary of an average marathon runner. But delve a little further and you will soon unearth a much deeper insight into the highs and lows of the athlete as he recounts tales of victory, of crushing defeat, and every emotion in between. Interspersed within the statistics and mileage counts is the odd gem of a musing so bizarre in its origin that one might wonder if the writers mindset is genius or madman. Then too will you find moments of true reflection, of life, of love, of friends, of the wisdom of age and the memories of youth. This irreverently witty view on sporting life in a backwater of Englands forgotten North brings the page alive in a way no paperback ever has or could.And the best news? Theres more to come…….